Resources & Resolution Options

Student Consumer Information

Use the link below for an overview of the information that University of Northern
Colorado and other U.S. institutions of higher education are required to provide to
current and prospective students, parents, and employees so that they may make informed
decisions about post-secondary education.

Complaint Resolution for Online Students Outside the State of Colorado

Online and distance education is an important part of the University of Northern Colorado's
program offerings. We have been offering distance education since 1902 and online
education for more than two decades. Recent amendments to the Higher Education Act
of 1965 include changes in regulation for State Authorization that may impact online
and distance education providers. The relevant language includes:

If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence
education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which
it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution
must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance
education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary
the State's approval upon request.(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)

Step 1 – Contact UNC

If you have a complaint or concern about your educational experience, or a student,
faculty or staff member, please contact Extended Campus or the UNC Dean of Students office.

Step 2 – Outside Support for Resolution

In compliance with the language passed in the Higher Education Opportunities Act of
2008, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) conducted a Negotiated Rule Making
Process in 2010, institutions offering distance education must provide enrolled and
prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accrediting
agency and with the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in the student's
state. Below is information on UNC's accreditation agency, followed by links to the
agencies in each state responsible for complaints regarding out-of-state distance
education programs.

UNC's Accreditor

The University of Northern Colorado is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning
Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The
Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) has authorized the University to offer
undergraduate and graduate level courses and certificates, as well as baccalaureate,
masters, doctorate, and professional degrees. Information regarding the complaint
process can be found on the HLC website.

NC-SARA or State-By-State Complaint Resolution Assistance

UNC is an active member of the NC-SARA reciprocity agreement (a national initiative to increase access to distance education
while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies) and we work
with additional state agencies so that we can continue providing educational access
to students across the country.

If a student located in a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) state
has a complaint about an institution operating under NC-SARA, complaints must first
go through the institution’s procedure for resolution of student grievances (see above).
If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process, the complaint
may then be brought to the NC-SARA portal agency in the institution’s home state: visit the Colorado NC-SARA portal agency.

The state where the student is located may also resolve the complaint. Choose your
state of residence below if you have an unresolved complaint about a UNC program that
you are attending at a distance from within that state.

Summer 2020 COVID-19 Impacts

All Summer in-person instruction is being adapted in accordance with current limitations
(and predicted future limitations) established by federal, state and university leadership.
If your program has (or had) any in-person requirements, please know that all Extended
Campus course information is being updated ASAP whenever changes are determined.